ACROSS THE NATION.

White globules in donor blood identified as normal components

February 12, 2003|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The white globules found in bags of donated blood in the South were identified Tuesday by the American Red Cross as clumps of normal blood components. But why the clumps are forming in such large quantities is a mystery.

The globules were identified as platelets, white blood cells and fibrin strands. All three components are normally present in donated blood, and some clumping is normal, authorities said.

But the sheer number of clumps is unusual.

Blood supplies have been under scrutiny for more than a week in Red Cross regions in Georgia, Tennessee and surrounding areas, where a total of 120 units of blood were found with white particles.

At least 5,000 blood units have been put under quarantine, from Florida to parts of Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri.